POULSBO —  Five families and organizations donated a total of $3,500 this week to the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund.

That brings the Week 2 total to $4,600 — a pretty good start toward the fund goal of $35,000.

All donations make a difference in a lot of local lives, fund chairman John Macdonald said.

The fund was founded by the late Frank and Mabel Raab — he was mayor from 1960-69 — as a way for neighbors to help each other during emergencies. The Poulsbo Noon Lions Club administers the fund for the Raab Foundation.

The Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund turns the funds over to North Kitsap Fishline and St. Vincent de Paul, which use the money to provide food, emergency shelter and emergency financial assistance to North Kitsap residents in need. Donations are tax-deductible.

The fund helps at least 300 families a year, Macdonald said.

Because of donations to the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund, “We’re able to stretch what we’re doing for people in crisis — whether it’s paying rent, mortgage, or utilities,” said Rae Rodriguez, Fishline’s client services manager. “It used to be that folks would come in because of an issue, now it’s because of multiple issues. We’ve been in crisis mode for a couple of years, and we’ve probably tripled our client load since then.”

The Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation keeps $5,000 in reserve, to use in the event of a “major catastrophe” during the year, Macdonald said. In addition, some proceeds are used to provide Christmas food baskets for 100 local families.

Donations are accepted year-round for the fund — P.O. Box 1244, Poulsbo 98370. Donations can also be delivered to the North Kitsap Herald, 19351 8th Ave., Suite 106, Poulsbo. Donations are tax-deductible.

Here are this week’s donors.

WEEK 2

— William and Helene Schmidt: $200.

— Kiwanis Club of Greater Poulsbo Foundation: $2,000, in honor and memory of Dr. Roscoe Heins.

— Rosemary and Dolph Jaeger: $1,000, in memory of Elaine Hillier.

— Christi and Mike: $100, in memory of loved ones.

— The Stottlemeyers: $200, in memory of Art DeCarufel and Ellen & Wally Stottlemeyer.

To-date total: $4,600